Two goals from Danielle O’Leary helps MTU Kerry win Giles Cup

MTU Kerry have won the 2024 Ladies HEC Giles Cup with a 3-7 to 0-10 win against Maynooth University at MTU Cork on Friday evening. The Tralee college was always very much in control of this final, and led 2-7 to 0-6 at half time.

Rathmore and Kerry footballer Danielle O’Leary scored two goals with a performance that earned her the Player of the Match award. Team captain Caoimhe Evans accepted the Giles Cup from Ladies HEC chairperson Daniel Caldwell.

The win atones for MTU Kerry’s 2023 Giles Cup final lose to Ulster University when they were well beaten by 4-14 to 1-9.

Speaking after the game captain Evans said: “We’re absolutely delighted, and I suppose knowing that it’s International Women’s Day is very appropriate. I couldn’t be happier to be winning a game like this with my magnificent group of team mates. It’s fantastic and I’m so happy. It means so much to us and our parents, they travelled the length and breadth of the country with us to support us so it means so much.”

On the team’s double goal scorers Danielle O’Leary, her former Kerry team mate Evans said: “She’s outrageous altogether. She’s unstoppable and we’re so lucky to have her as a team mate. Not only is she a great player but she’s a great person in general and we’re so lucky to have her on our team.”

Referring to last year’s Giles Cup final loss, Evans said: “It’s devastating losing a game but the only positive to it is that it brings you closer together, everyone sticks together and it would push you to win the following year.”